Category Archives: vertigo

The end of the Book Three, the climax of the ‘Animal Armies’ conflict, brings despair and a measure of hope in the grim landscape that Lemire has so vividly illustrated. With Jepperd leading the rescue attempt at the camp, there is one secret that is finally revealed. We finally find out the truth about Jepperd’s son – and the way Lemire tells it is shocking and stunning. I would not expect Lemire to hold back, and he doesn’t. There is so much misery and despair in Sweet Tooth that the humanity, when it surfaces, is heartbreaking. But the hope is the real killer here – because the further this odyssey goes, the realisation that these characters are heading towards an endless horizon of suffering is inescapable. But it is the most beautiful and sad comic book around.

This is all I am going to say – there is nothing finer currently on the shelves. One year on, it has an emotional pull that is unmatched by any other title. Look at those hybrid children and I dare you not to feel any twinge of sadness. Looking at the overall picture, I can see a storm brewing. I hope that Jepperd is riding it.

JUST BUY THE FIRST VOLUME AND BE PREPARED TO BE MOVED.

Jeff Lemire is doing something beautiful here people – please support his efforts.

Hoera!! Hoera!! (That is dutch for ‘hooray’! or ‘Hurrah’!) ‘Sweet Tooth’ has made it to a year – which, considering the recent news that both ‘Unknown Soldier’ and ‘Air’ have been cancelled, is something to still be grateful to Vertigo for. I don’t think the single issue sales for this title make happy reading, but the trade of volume 1 (aka ‘Out of the Woods’) did some good business on its release a few months back. Like so many other Veritgo titles, when they do not make money on the singles, they really cash in with the trades.

But enough of sales and figures – we are at a lull in proceedings with the story at this issue, with Dr. Singh committing his surmising, thoughts and feelings to tape, and so provides a ‘jumping on’ point to try and grab the attention of more prospective readers. So, if you have not succumbed to the charm and emotion of this brilliant post-apocalyptic tale, please go and buy issue 12 right now! You have no excuse. And buy the first trade while you are at it.

What Jeff Lemire (writer and artist) has constructed, as a narrative device in this issue, are panels devoid of any dialogue except for Singhs thoughts as text at the bottom of the panels. This allows Lemires wonky yet emotionally charged art to tell the tragic tale of Gus and the other animal-children hybrids, their fate inescapably entwined with that of the future of the human race.

The brutality of the situation is made more hard to take because of the innocence / kindness of Gus, to his fellow captives. You are not allowed to forget that beyond their sometimes grotesque / funny appearance, these are children, helpless, incarcerated and very much at the centre of this drama.

Issue 12 does not advance the story too much, but as a reference to where the story is right now, it does its job effectively. Does it work as a jumping on point? Yes Is there enough to keep established readers active? Yes.

Oh, by the way – it has enough to spare for a heart thumping revelation at the end….

SWEET TOOTH #12Written by JEFF LEMIREArt and cover by JEFF LEMIREIn this stand-alone story, we take a peek into a day in the life of Gus as our favorite antlered boy finds moments of surprising tenderness in the grueling militia camp. Meanwhile, Dr. Singh recounts the events of the plague. The shocking revelations continue in this great jumping-on point to Vertigo’s Eisner-nominated buzz book!On sale AUGUST 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US MATURE READERS

UNKNOWN SOLDIER #23Written by JOSHUA DYSARTArt by ALBERTO PONTICELLICover by DAVE JOHNSONIn the hands of the men who created his fractured psyche, Moses is ready to assume his role as a super soldier in service of a shadowy government agency. But on one condition: Bring back ostracized CIA agent in exile Jack Lee Howl. Get ready for secrets revealed, mysteries unlocked and old warriors reunited.On sale AUGUST 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • MATURE READERS

Another highly impressive, engrossing episode of Jeff Lemire’s post-apocalyptic opus. Here, he effortlessly interweaves the tales of Gus & Jepperd, as the reader gets a better understanding of the forces at work in this terrible world Lemire has conjured. There is nothing but pure misery and sadness running coursing through this issue – Jepperd hell-bent on self destruction, lamenting his lost love, Gus terrified, confused and alone – but the power of these emotions is compelling. There is a lot more of this tale to be told.

Maybe we are beginning to understand the bigger picture, maybe beginning to grasp what is driving / killing Jeppered. My perception of Singh changed somewhat during this issue. Maybe he is as helpless as Jepperd & Gus. Abbot, however, seems to be all about evil and power…

Nice Mad Max/ Akira tribute inside these marvelous pages as well. This title has not put a foot wrong, and as it heads into double figures, its power and intensity only increases. BUY THIS BOOK. IT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER.

I think the first issue is out next month – pretty excited about this title….

iZOMBIE #3On sale JULY 732 pg, FC, $2.99 USMATURE READERSWritten by CHRIS ROBERSONArt and cover by MICHAEL ALLREDUnless zombie gravedigger Gwen Dylan eats a dead person’s brain once a month, she loses her memories. The trouble is, for the week following a feeding, she shares her head with the dead person’s final thoughts and has to complete any unfinished business they’ve left behind. In this case, it involves solving the murder of “Dead Fred.”Meanwhile, Gwen’s friend Spot is finding it increasingly difficult to keep his secret life as a were-terrier from his coworkers…